CN's M-636s 1991 - 1996

12 different M-636s are seen in operation. They were not equipped with the new safety devices required on the lead locomotive and so are always seen in a trailing position except 2335 which in October 1996 was the Moncton shop switcher (probably its final assignment before going to the dead line). Don't miss the in cab views at 30minutes 45 seconds.
there is 9 minutes of night time video of 2323 starting at 12 minutes. It was about midnight on a very still evening in April 1996 and so I have included all the shunting and a meet at Akerley Boulevard for the sound.

[@jamesstuart3346]

Great to see rolling stock from the BG Era (Before Graffiti)

[@BNforever2009]

my favorite loco, love the M-636 and the C-636's.

[@mec253]

Excellent video Dave. During the night video (@1638 min) there is an M420, the 3525. When the CN ran these units down into Portland Maine on CN 393/394, the then 2500 series were assigned these runs for years. I was working in the Portland Fire Dept and my station was built in the mid 60s as not only a fire station (Bramhall) but as a shelter to house all the big wigs who were supposed to survive/run things after the Red Bear nuked us. We discarded the WW2 era survival garbage in the 70s and I got a "bomb shelter" decal and having numerous friends who worked on the CN, I picked a unit (the 2525) and I put this "bomb shelter" decal on the shithouse door in the nose. (Please excuse me here but that's what the crews called the toilet door.) Anyway, that decal was there for YEARS ....and you should have seen all the comical stuff that was written on that door until finally the CN rebuilt/repainted the 2525. That was a sad day. Too bad as that door should have been saved in a museum somewhere. Also the Moncton yard switcher, the 2335 .....I was surprised there was no bell in the bracket !! Sad to see ALL those old MLW units gone now.

[@david-othen]

2525 would probably not have been repainted but the 2 would have been changed to 3 to make 3525. 2335 was I gather retired and then un-retired to become the shop switcher. The bell was either stolen or used for another loco!

[@torquetrain8963]

Awesome story.

[@kddaniels5965]

great video as always loved the close ups able to see details good. thanks much.

[@normansilver905]

I can remember the Cartier mining railroad Alco's. They served faithfully for years and established a good reputation for dependability.

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

Read a story years ago in Trains Magazine about Illinois Centrals C-636 rocking violently while throttling up. According to the article it was almost enough to derail the units with track spread. Amazing machines these Alcos are & always will be in the hearts of their fans. Great video Mr Othen.

[@BNforever2009]

I heard the same story too and they DID derail at higher speeds. The IC didnt know what caused it, excessive truck hunting and they couldnt fix them, they leased them to CP for long term lease and CP couldnt figure them out.. The engine crews hated them and they would usually be in the middle of a consist. I heard the CP sent one to K-K to see if they could fix it and they couldnt figure it out either. They were very good on slow frieght and coal drags under 30mph but that was it. Somehow, PC crews stationed at Mingo Jct where the Penn Central assigned all their Alco units at the time figured them out and fixed them and never had a problem out of them. They lasted thru the Conrail years and they were good runners but the guys at Mingo Jct werent about to tell their secrets to the CP, CN and IC. The BN fixed those big Alcos after acquired from the SP&S and had no problems with them and, they were supposed to stay in Washington and Oregon but they made it all the way to Minneapolis and Chicago at times. The BN mainly used them in low priority frieght drags and that was it. The trick was, go thru those Hi-Ad trucks and look at every nook and cranny of them things and see what really caused them to "hunt" the rails and get worser when going at a faster speed. The IC hurried up and retired them big monsters. They were more happy with the Paducah rebuilds, mainly the GP-8 and GP-10's.

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

Thank you for the information. If I had the choice of high horsepower slow drag. These units come first to mind. A real shame Alco/MLW folded. Imagine what treats they would have manufactured present day. Speaking of Alco's. I did a bit of research on Alcos that never made it into production. Like the following. Alco C-428 ,C-620 , C-624 , C-636 F {Freight} ,C-636P {Passenger} and C-650DH . So far I've found that not many drawings if any are still around. As a matter of fact not much information on these anywhere. Sorry I get a little worked up in regards to anything Alco or MLW . Love the sound of those Alco's. It's nice to talk to folks who love Alco's.

[@BNforever2009]

Low Budget Scale Modeling. I love the Alco's especially the big 6 axle beasts, if Alco had a change of heart for good mgmt, then I think Alco would have survived. Before 1966, GE was supplying Alco with good parts too. I have 2 HO scale brass C-636's. i will run them on heavy slow coal drags and working the coal mines on the club layout.

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

I subscribed to you channel for just such a show. Bowser makes some very nice HO Alcos. Do you have an opinion on those ? Any members of your MR club have any ?

[@BNforever2009]

I dont know anybody in the club that have those but, there are a few members like me are waiting for the new Alco C-636 units to come out, I wont be able to get mine until November and Dcemebr, 1 in M-K Leasing. 1 in IC and 3 in any road name, to be stripped and repainted in my own home road, the ZGM-Zanesville, Georgia and Macon.rr.

[@Elliottblancher]

3:38 I recognize that bright blue boxcar, that is a Norwood and St Lawrence Railroad Pullman Standard Boxcar

[@9751asd]

Hey @SteveBoyko im really confused i just came across a few videos on CN's M636's Leading Trains in the early 1990's do you know by any chance if they were fitted with the safety devices?

[@BOBBAHR]

Monsters!

[@Massey461]

They have a very spartan interior compared to the rebuilt RS18s

[@david-othen]

Very true.

[@9751asd]

Now I Wish I Was Born Earlier Just So I Can Enjoy The Almighty MLW Locomotives When They Were The King of The Canadian Rails Been Born In 1996 Sucks!!!!!!!

[@david-othen]

They had the ability to project power in both the way they looked and the way they sounded.

[@camsmith7651]

Can someone explain why locomotives are always so filthy dirty?

[@christopherescott6787]

05:18...A single dome tank?? That has to be very old.

[@andrewbaird1611]

Looks like a tankcar converted into a sandcar for the diesel shops. There was one like it in Newfoundland.

[@9751asd]

Does Anyone Know CN"s Excuse for not putting reset safety controls on the M636's?

[@CNFAN79]

I think it was mainly because by the time RSC became mandatory the M636s were already nearing retirement. Also most crews preferred having other units lead with the M636s trailing anyway, they were known to be rough riders.

[@alco424]

Great video David! Do you by chance have any video from around the Sysco mill in Sydney?

[@david-othen]

Thanks - I think the mill was closed by 1991 when I started video. I do have a few photos some of which are on my website users.eastlink.ca/~othen

[@alco424]

David Othen OK, thanks, I will look for those pictures. Incidentally, the mill actually closed in 2000.

[@david-othen]

alco424 When I have time I will do a search - I was in Sydney briefly in 1997

[@david-othen]

David Othen The only footage I have in Sydney that I can find is of CBCNS assembling the daily train in the yards there. The mill site can very briefly seen in the distance.

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

Alco's !!!!!

[@david-othen]

Technically MLWs!! Yes by this time they had been de-rated to 3000 hp to avoid the vibration problem. I suspect that this made them less fuel efficient than the C-630Ms and so they were often stored.